For the past few years, I've been attending a fall hiking weekend with some friends at the Ararat Center. It's always a fun weekend. I wanted to say, though, that this past trip, I noticed many improvements [more...]

ARMENIAN ARTS & CULTURE CELEBRATED AT 7th ANNUAL FESTIVAL

August 3, 2010

Greenville, NY – The weather looked uncertain in the days leading up to the seventh annual Ararat Center Festival held in upstate New York, however, clouds and showers cleared for a beautiful afternoon of cultural celebration and traditional picnic festivities on Saturday, July 24.

Grills were fired up to feed nearly 600 people who feasted on delicious losh and chicken kebob meals while enjoying the sounds of the Arev Armenian Folk Ensemble.

The theme for this year’s Festival showcased Armenian arts and talent. The afternoon program consisted of the Nazeli Dance Group and the Children’s Choir of the Sts. Sahag & Mesrob Armenian Church in Providence, RI. The dance group performed graceful Armenian-choreographed dances and displayed several exquisite costumes during their routine. The junior choir, conducted by Maestro Konstantin Petrossian, sang various Armenian songs for the attentive crowd.

“It was a treat to watch these young girls perform and heartwarming to see the commitment to maintain our Armenian culture here in America,” shared Rose Najarian Kedeshian, Ararat Center Board Vice Chairman and co-organizer for the Festival preparations.

To compliment the cultural theme this year, the St. Vartan campers, who were completing the second camp session this summer at the Ararat Center, provided Armenian artwork that was beautifully displayed for all Festival participants to enjoy.

“How wonderful it is for Armenian families from around our Diocese to join together in Christian fellowship,” said Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), who presided over the event. “The annual Ararat Festival is a day filled with Armenian culture and life.”

Vendors were also on hand to sell their goods ranging from books to jewelry, Armenian crafts and more. Children even had their opportunity to revel in the bounce house, run throughout the expansive grounds of the facility, and be cooled by flavorful snow cones.

The Ararat Center Board of Directors extends their appreciation to the numerous sponsors and in-kind contributions, which assisted in the overall success of the Festival. All proceeds from this event will help to offset the continued maintenance and upgrades of this Diocesan-owned facility.